Police Chief Graphael Musamba told a media briefing that Mr M’membe’s recent utterances bordered on inciting "civil disobedience" against the government.

“Him referring to military juntas in West Africa, only means one thing, to destabilise the peace the country has being enjoying. Is this the socialism he is preaching about, bringing military coups?" he said.Mr M’membe denies the allegations and despite his arrest has continued issuing statements online.

He claims a fresh order has been issued to the police and other law enforcement agencies to take full possession of all his electronic devices - phones, laptops and other belongings.

“What a sheer waste of time and energy? Let the police legally request for what they want from us and we shall cooperate, instead of resorting to such primitive policing techniques,” he posted on his Facebook page.

Mr M’membe who is a journalist-turned-politician once owned the Post newspaper which was controversially liquidated in 2016 for allegedly failing to meet tax obligations.